Home » Jazz Musicians » Jane Bunnett

Jane Bunnett

Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory. In 1979 she began concurrent studies in jazz at York University, Toronto, inspired by her first exposure to jazz great Charles Mingus and Rahsaan Roland Kirk in San Francisco. This led to studies with pianist Barry Harris, flautists James Newton, Frank Wess and James Moody; then, having heard soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy’s music, she began to focus on that instrument also. A 1991 Canada Council grant enabled her to travel to Paris to begin studies with Lacy.

Her first recording was an ambitious mix of Canadian and American players (the late pianist Don Pullen, tenor player and Ornette Coleman veteran Dewey Redman and Vincent Chancy, French horn) . This debut, In Dew Time, earned a Juno nomination in 1988. She toured Canada with Redman in 1991, and Australia with Pullen in 1992. A year later, Jane recorded New York Duets with Pullen, following it up with Live at Sweet Basil, then 1994's The Water is Wide which was chosen by The Village Voice as best record of the year.

A mid-‘80's trip to Cuba with new husband Larry Cramer turned Jane’s musical world upside down, into a passion for the island’s wildly fertile musical culture and its people. Since then, Jane has explored the music in every corner of Cuba, and has absorbed the lessons and traditions with the same devotion she has given to her other work, seeking out musicians all over the island. Her tourism has now given way to an obsession with the island’s music. “Over the years I developed relationships with some of Cuba’s legendary musicians,” she recalls. “I’ve had a great opportunity to learn the music in the streets and in the homes of these people, and that’s what fueled my vision.” Many of these musicians have played in her exciting group, The Spirits of Havana.

In 1991 she recorded Spirits of Havana, with a group of relatively unknown musicians (outside of Cuba) plus Cramer and Canadian bassist Kieran Overs, setting a trend to follow on subsequent recordings. This record was picked by the All-Music Guide as one of the top 300 jazz discs of all time and also captured a JUNO award. This was followed by the innovative Rendezvous Brazil- Cuba which featured the melding of Brazilian, Cuban and North American jazz music and musicians. In 1997 Jane completed Chamalongo. “Where Spirits of Havana was our initiation into this rich musical heritage,” Jane says, “it’s with Chamalongo that we’ve realized our musical dream to incorporate the total roots of Afro-Cuban music. All of my past musical experiences led me to Chamalongo..." I know it was the most passionate and powerfully-felt record of my career.”

Read more

Tags

3
Radio & Podcasts

Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall

Read "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


This week we feature new releases from flutist Haruna Fukazawa, vocalists Svetlana, Emma Frank and Jazzmeia Horn, soprano saxophonist and flutist Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, plus a rediscovered Miles Davis recording, with birthday shout outs to Doris Tauber (composer of “Them There Eyes"), Claire Martin, Tom Wopat, Alyssa Allgood and Lorraine Feather, among others. Playlist The DIVA Jazz Orchestra “East Coast Andy" from The Diva Jazz Orchestra 25th Anniversary Project (ArtistShare) 00:00 Tom Wopat “I Won't Dance" from ...

11
Album Review

Jane Bunnett & Maqueque: Oddara

Read "Oddara" reviewed by James Nadal


There has been a constant stimulating fascination associated with Cuba that has attracted numerous jazz musicians to delve deeper into its musical traditions. Also, judging by the amount of recent recordings by Cuban artists, and those who feature them in collaborative efforts, the island sustains its status as a vital source of inspiration on the global jazz scene. Cuba captivated saxophonist/flautist Jane Bunnett many years ago, eventually leading her to form the all-female group Maqueque in 2013, culminating in a ...

3
Album Review

Jane Bunnett and Maqueque: Jane Bunnett and Maqueque

Read "Jane Bunnett and Maqueque" reviewed by Maurizio Zerbo


Forse stanca della trascurabile attenzione riservatale fin qui dai mass media, l'ottima jazzista canadese avrà pensato di annacquare la sua rigorosa progettualità. Scelta legittima ma discutibile, che dà luogo ad un percorso duplice ed ambivalente, dai differenti esiti artistici. Questa volta, le ormai consuete influenze afrocubane, che la Bunnett ha affrontato con migliori esiti per tre decenni), si mescolano in diversi episodi con un tocco leggero di asfittica, innocua fusion. Anche sul piano timbrico le scelte ...

155
Album Review

Jane Bunnett & Hilario Duran: Cuban Rhapsody

Read "Cuban Rhapsody" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Torontonian flautist/saxophonist Jane Bunnett joins forces with Cuban-born, Toronto-based pianist Hilario Duran for a special duet recording, exploring the Cuban equivalent of The Great American Songbook on Cuban Rhapsody. Containing a full range of Cuban music, from Ignacio Cervantes to Jose Maria Vitier, the classically trained duo breathes new life into much of this classical-rooted music. At the same time, it would be a mistake to categorize this as a strictly classical album, for it does contain certain elements of ...

326
Album Review

Jane Bunnett: Embracing Voices

Read "Embracing Voices" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


Saxophonist/flautist Jane Bunnett's Embracing Voices honors the human voice with unbridled intensity and features brave rhythmic, melodic and harmonic explorations. The record features fourteen instruments that swathe the heavenly choiristics of Grupo Vocal Desandann, the legendary ten-person a capella ensemble that celebrates a Haitian legacy. The choral group employs dense harmonies, intricately woven into call-and-response segues and contrapuntal structures that makes Desandann one of the most distinctive 10-voice choirs in music. Stately basses grind con arco together with the trill ...

1,070
Interview

Jane Bunnett: Embracing Voices

Read "Jane Bunnett: Embracing Voices" reviewed by Tomas Pena


Jane Bunnett, the Toronto soprano saxophonist, flutist and bandleader and her husband, trumpeter Larry Cramer have built their careers at the crossroads between Cuban music and jazz. Twice nominated for Grammy Awards and a fixture at the nominations for Canada's Juno Awards, their bands are virtual showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the United States and Cuba.Bunnett has long held an ongoing love affair with the human voice. Embracing Voices (Blue Note, 2008)--one of her most ...

1,119
Extended Analysis

Jane Bunnett: Embracing Voices

Read "Jane Bunnett: Embracing Voices" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


Jane Bunnett Embracing Voices EMI Canada/Blue Note 2008

Jane Bunnett is never afraid to push the envelope. She did so with her 1988 album, In Dew Time, the now out-of-print vinyl that was produced privately by the Toronto imprint, Dark Light, on which producer, husband and trumpet/flugelhorn player Larry Cramer scooped both keyboard player Don Pullen and saxophonist Dewey Redman. Then followed an extraordinary slew of records, from those featuring Pullen--New York ...

Read more articles

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!

Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory. In 1979 she began concurrent studies in jazz at York University, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!

Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory. In 1979 she began concurrent studies in jazz at York University, ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!

Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory. In 1979 she began concurrent studies in jazz at York University, ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!

Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!

Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!

Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today!

Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more.

Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

4

Performance / Tour

Multiple Juno Award Winner Jane Bunnett Featuring Maqueque To Release "Oddara" On October 14 - Touring!

Multiple Juno Award Winner Jane Bunnett Featuring Maqueque To Release "Oddara" On October 14 - Touring!

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

MULTIPLE JUNO AWARD WINNER JANE BUNNETT FEATURING MAQUEQUE TO RELEASE “ODDARA" ON OCTOBER 14 New North American Dates Added! EXTRAORDINARY ALL-FEMALE CUBAN SEXTET TWO TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA LISTEN TO AND SHARE THE FIRST SINGLE “DREAM “ VIA YOUTUBE OR SOUNDCLOUD PRE-ORDER ODDARA VIA ITUNES, AMAZON OR LINUS LABEL STORE “Jane Bunnett and Maqueque... utterly shatters the glass ceiling of Afro Cuban Jazz"—Boston Globe “If they are ...

7

Recording

Multiple Juno Award Winner Jane Bunnett Featuring Maqueque To Release "Oddara" On October 14

Multiple Juno Award Winner Jane Bunnett Featuring Maqueque To Release "Oddara" On October 14

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

MULTIPLE JUNO AWARD WINNER JANE BUNNETT FEATURING MAQUEQUE TO RELEASE “ODDARA" ON OCTOBER 14 EXTRAORDINARY ALL-FEMALE CUBAN SEXTET TWO TIME GRAMMY NOMINEE OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF CANADA LISTEN TO AND SHARE THE FIRST SINGLE “DREAM “ VIA YOUTUBE OR SOUNDCLOUD PRE-ORDER ODDARA VIA ITUNES, AMAZON OR LINUS LABEL STORE “Jane Bunnett and Maqueque... utterly shatters the glass ceiling of Afro Cuban Jazz"—Boston Globe “If they are coming anywhere near your town, go see them!"—Jon Garelick, Giant Steps Four-time JUNO ...

1

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jane Bunnett

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Jane Bunnett's birthday today! Jane Bunnett has become one of the foremost jazz musicians in Canada, and has gained recognition around the world for her improvising talents, technical proficiency, and writing and band leading abilities. Born and educated in Toronto, she trained as a classical pianist from 1975-78 (attaining Grade 10 Piano Honors), until tendentious forced a switch to woodwinds at the Royal Conservatory... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget on your ...

Rob Ames
saxophone, soprano

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Oddara

Linus Entertainment
2016

buy

Jane Bunnett and...

Justin Time Records
2014

buy

Cuban Rhapsody

Alma Records
2011

buy

Embracing Voices

Sunnyside Records
2009

buy

Jane Bunnett:...

EMI Music
2008

buy

Radio...

Blue Note Records
2006

buy

Dream

From: Oddara
By Jane Bunnett

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.